Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: Rachel Reeves and Kemi Badenoch as guests

Jennifer McKiernan
Political reporter

Kemi Badenoch’s next big decision will involve who to appoint to her front bench, but some MPs are already ruling themselves out.

Sir Keir Starmer appointed 111 ministers when he came to power, but the number of Conservative MPs fell to 121 after the historic defeat in July, making it difficult to keep track of all those portfolios.

Shortly before the result, the leader’s rival and shadow home secretary James Cleverley said that would not accept the expected offer roles in her shadow cabinet.

Shadow Chancellor Jeremy Hunt also said he would “step down” from the shadow cabinet, saying the Tories “don’t need to show new faces” to the British public after their “big defeat” at the election.

Now Steve Barclay has posted on X announcing that he will also step down as Shadow Environment Secretary.

He says: “After nine years on the front bench, including the last six years in the Cabinet, I have decided to return to the back bench, away from the constraints of life on the front bench, and spend more time as a father.”